P and F Disco

The P and F Primary Disco last Friday night was a great success.  Thanks to all the P and F volunteers who worked hard to make it such a fun night for the little ones. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Briton for taking photos on the night. Paul is the grandfather of one of our students and has allowed us to use his photographic expertise on many occasions. More recently Paul has been giving up his time to take sibling photos for the P and F.

Helping victims of Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu

We have all been moved by the plight of our near neighbours in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam caused such devastation. The primary students ran a shake and bake in Week 9 and had a free dress day with a tropical twist last Wednesday, to raise money for the victims of the cyclone.

As a College we also had the opportunity to donate five boxes of new T-shirts in our bright house colours. Now that we have our new sporting shirts with the mascots emblazoned on them, this seemed like the perfect time and the perfect cause to donate the unused old shirts.

Kylie Woodhead organised for Greg MacLeod from Williamson International to take delivery of the shirts last week. This company is working closely with Air Vanuatu and their distribution centres in Vanuatu to make sure the shirts reach needy children and families as soon as possible.

Visit by Mr Mal Brough MP

For some time Mr Brough has been reading our newsletters and expressed an interest in seeing the new Year 1 buildings. On Tuesday Mr Brough was able to come out and tour the new facility and see firsthand the growth of the College. Mr Brough loved the new classrooms and the creativity of the building design.

New Buildings

By the time you read this newsletter the new buildings will be fully complete and it will be full steam ahead for the unpacking and setting up of these classy looking classrooms. I’m sure the Year 1 students and staff are very excited and can’t wait to settle in next term. Prep Maroon will also be very glad to move into their new home and there will be many parents and visitors grateful for all the extra car parks. Thank you all for your patience during the building process. The program has gone very well and it has been exciting watching these buildings grow before our eyes.

Naming our Newsletter

A week ago we launched a competition on Facebook to name our Newsletter. We have been receiving some terrific submissions and would like to widen the competition from just our Facebook followers to all of our College families. The winning name will be rewarded with a $50 Coffee Club gift voucher. Please email your submissions to: [email protected]

ANZAC Day Service and March

There won’t be another newsletter between now and the ANZAC Day so please put these details in a handy place for when the date comes. This year is the special 100 year celebrations.

We will be holding a whole of College ANZAC Day Service on Friday 24 April at 8.30am in the Undercover Area. When I say ‘whole of College’ our numbers will be depleted substantially as most of Secondary will be on camps or Work Experience however, I’m sure the rest of the College will more than make up for their absence.

This year the ANZAC Day Parade falls on Saturday 25 April. As you know, we have a proud history of participating in this significant event for many years and it is a tradition we want to continue into the future. We do it to show we are part of the community but more importantly, to respect and honour those who laid down their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. It is a freedom that was bought at great cost and not one that we take for granted.

Students and staff will assemble at 9.10am at the corner of Mawhinney and Free Streets in Beerwah. The march begins at 9.30am and ends at the cenotaph at the Beerwah RSL where the service will commence at about 10.00am. Students must wear their formal school uniform including formal hats for Secondary students. Please bring a bottle of water with you on the day. Families are welcome to watch the parade from either side of the street.

Open Day

I know that Saturday 16 May seems a long way off but if you would mark it as a date claimer on your calendar, I would appreciate it. Our students are the stars of the day and it is their participation and involvement that makes our Open Day such a success. All the teachers and support staff will also be present on the day.

This year the event will be bigger and better than ever before. For our current families, this is the ideal time to inspect our new Year 1 buildings. The animal nursery and jumping castle was such a hit last year that we have booked them again this year. Our Agricultural Science stand will even have some of our very own farm animals for you to meet.

Now that the campus is so much bigger than last year, we will have a miniature train on the day to take people around the whole College. I’m sure the young and young at heart will enjoy this new feature.

There will also be formal dance, drama, and music performances, informal live music, interactive activities and fun events like the father/son pencil case challenge. If you are a Primary parent, this is a good opportunity to visit the Secondary classrooms and learn more about the subjects your child/ren will be taking. Traditionally, Secondary parents aren’t as able as Primary parents to visit the College during the year and this is another reason why we have our Open Days on a Saturday – so everyone can attend.

TV advertisement for Open Day

We have been able to negotiate a very affordable deal with WIN television to advertise Open Day on their station. Keep an eye out for these ads perhaps in the second week of the holidays and early next term. I would like to thank all of the students who were so enthusiastically involved in the project.

Complaints about parents speeding around Blackbutt Street

We have recently received a complaint from one of the residents in Blackbutt Street about the speed at which parents are travelling in this area. Blackbutt Street is the street to the North East of the oval. Although I am concerned about keeping good neighbourly relations I am more concerned about ensuring our children are safe. Please, at all times when you are driving around the school area, ensure the safety of our kids is your first priority.

Also, please note that you must not enter the College via the service road off Blackbutt Street for picking up and dropping off students. This road is for emergency and service vehicle use only.

Easter

I can’t believe how fast Term 1 has gone and I imagine many of you are also realising with surprise that we are now into April.

The school holidays begin with Easter so a great way to start the holidays with quality family time is to go to church together on Good Friday and/or Easter Sunday.  If you haven’t been for a while, you may be surprised at some of the changes. These days, churches are warm, child friendly places that speak in simple English and make everyone feel welcome.

I hope you and yours have a relaxing and refreshing break and I look forward to seeing you in Term 2.

Mike Curtis, Principal